"Lord Patriarch, how are we going to deal with this next?"
"Also, there's been growing discussion in the village about the potential outbreak of a new Great Ninja War. The villagers are getting anxious."
Seeing that Uchiha Yue had finished reading the intel scrolls, Uchiha Tianyin stepped forward and inquired respectfully.
"It's nothing more than a flock of wild birds stirring in the distance," Yue replied calmly. "Don't concern yourself too much."
"As for the mood of the village, have the Uchiha patrol teams increase their visibility. Reassure the people through visible strength and strategic messaging. Let them know Konoha stands firm."
"Have any of the ninja units shown unusual behavior?" Yue added, his gaze sharp.
Although the foreign ninja operatives recently detained had cooperated well so far, it was unwise to assume their loyalty was unwavering under current tensions.
"No abnormalities have been detected as of now," Tianyin replied quickly. "But as the intel gets passed around, multiple departments have inquired whether it's time to reconvene the upper council to formally address the situation."
She was clearly prepared, having already anticipated this line of thought.
"Very well," Yue nodded. "If the signs of turmoil are this significant, let's summon them. It's time to move the council."
Yue was clearly satisfied with Tianyin's response. Without further delay, he made the decision to reconvene Konoha's upper leadership.
Though he alone had the power to eliminate entire war divisions from the Four Great Ninja Villages, how could he—who now commanded Konoha—ignore the responsibilities of leadership? The village had to contribute, and this crisis was an opportunity to weed out internal dissenters and unify the village under a new, purer order.
In fact, this looming war might be perfectly timed to complete his consolidation of power.
"Yes, Lord Patriarch," Tianyin replied crisply. With Yue's command received, she moved without hesitation.
Soon, in the familiar council chamber of the Hokage Tower, Konoha's upper echelon gathered once more. However, many of their ranks had changed, and allegiances had shifted dramatically since the fall of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the elevation of Uchiha Yue.
"I greet Lord Hokage."
As the officials arrived, many bowed and greeted him—not as an Uchiha clan leader, but as Hokage-sama.
"Well then," Yue said, seating himself with a calm authority. "You're all aware of the changes in the ninja world's climate. I'd like to hear your proposals."
"Reporting, Lord Hokage," Nara Shikaku stood first, his voice grave. "The simultaneous mobilization of the Four Great Nations places extreme strain on our outer garrisons. The border defense squads are struggling. I respectfully request that you issue support deployment orders immediately."
Yue nodded slowly but said, "Support will be arranged. However, Konoha is besieged from all sides, and I am only one man. So I ask—who among you is capable of leading our field armies?"
His dark eyes swept across the room. He was waiting. Hoping.
But as the silence stretched on, no one volunteered. Yue's gaze drifted across each face—some pale, some uncertain, some simply avoiding his eyes. Not a single voice answered the call.
"In the past," Shikaku said at last, voice steady but low, "command positions in wartime were given to renowned figures like the Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—ninja of Shadow-level strength and peerless prestige."
He hesitated. "At present, only you, Lord Hokage, and perhaps a few others within your clan bearing the Mangekyō Sharingan, possess such strength."
Yue's face remained unreadable. His eyes narrowed.
"Konoha—celebrated as the strongest village in the shinobi world—yet at this moment, you mean to tell me we cannot even name one worthy battlefield commander?" His voice was calm, but his words cut deeply. "Do you not feel ashamed?"
The air thickened with tension.
"Lord Hokage," a new voice rang out. "The Hyuga Clan is willing to take command of the Mist-nin front. I formally request deployment."
All heads turned. Hyuga Hiashi had risen from his seat, his face calm but his posture unyielding. There was pride in his gaze—and defiance.
"The Hyuga Clan?" Yue said, a trace of amusement in his tone. "That's bold. But Hiashi-dono, have you truly considered this carefully?"
Yue's words weren't just testing commitment—he knew Hiashi's reasons ran deeper than patriotism. There was long-standing tension between their clans.
"The Byakugan's perception abilities offer strong counters to Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Technique. Strategically, we are the best-suited for the Mist front," Hiashi replied firmly, with no trace of hesitation. "Please approve."
Yue understood instantly—Hiashi's resolve wasn't born just from strategy. It was about pride.
Historically, the Uchiha and Hyuga had stood as the twin noble pillars of Konoha, both feared and respected. Both wielded powerful dōjutsu—Sharingan and Byakugan—and both claimed the title of Konoha's premier bloodline clan.
In the past, tension and rivalry between the two had led to numerous skirmishes over status and superiority. Their mutual disdain had long been an open secret among Konoha's elites.
But all of that changed recently.
With Uchiha Yue's rise to power and his defeat of Sarutobi Hiruzen's political bloc, the Uchiha had reasserted dominance with overwhelming force. Several Uchiha had awakened Mangekyō, bolstering the clan's might further.
In comparison, the Hyuga Clan's influence had sharply diminished. Their once-equal prestige now paled in the shadow of Yue's rule.
Lately, Hyuga members couldn't walk the village streets without hearing murmurs comparing them unfavorably to the Uchiha. Fingers pointed. Whispers followed.
The entire Hyuga clan, from elders to branch house genin, carried the weight of this silent humiliation.
But this did not mean the Hyuga were reckless enough to challenge the Uchiha directly. Instead, they sought an opportunity—a chance to restore their honor and reassert their worth.
For Hiashi, this war was that opportunity. Yue's scorn had merely lit the fuse.
Now, standing tall before the Hokage and the council, he declared his clan's readiness—not just for war, but for redemption.
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